Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-02-17

line WlUn Lid SIOSScs Slllo htnI elOHt
miles before stopping at an inn. I
only made the same number of miles
on horseback, hut as he had to lie by
the next forenoon on account OF the
rain, while I had good weather,
gained half day on him. He pro-
ceeded toward La Crosse for ten miles
more, and then went north two miles,
and stayed overnight with a farmer
and talked about going to work in a
saw mill. Next day he headed due
west, and reached the Wisconsin river
at hamlet called Little Bend. 1t
was on the sixth day after he left
Milwaukee that l located him. and he
had then been at work in a saw mill
for a day and half. l entered the
hamlet on foot, as he had done, hav-
ing a few extra clothes in a bundle.
and it was soon known to the seventy
five or eighty population that 1 was
in search of work. The owner of the
only store in the place also kept a
saloon and tavern. and, under pre-
tense of being foOtsOre and used up,
I remained idle for two or three days,
although the mill owner was short of
hands and desired me to go to work at
once.
1t may be thought strange that did
not at once arrest Lane and have done
with it, Had 1 overhauled him en-
route that would have been the plan,
for the money would have been in his
valise. He had taken board at the
tavern, and during my first half day
there 1 had found his room open and
his valise unlocked. There was moth
ing in it which any one would want
to take away. He had, like sharp
man, taken his money out and planted
it. He could not justly suspect that 1
was after him, for after three or four
days I went to work alongside of him
and held him at distance. He tried
hard to get acquainted with me, but L
was taciturn and unsocial. He gave
me an opportunity to ask him ques-
tons, but 1 refused to profit by it. l
admitted, for purpose, that L left
Milwaukee four OF five days behind
him; and, after seeming to reflect for
a while, he asked:
'.Was there any special news when
you left?'
~ don't remember"
''No murders or rObbCries?'
There was a mystery of some sort, /
believe. Somebody drew a lot of money
out of the bank. fell into the hands of
sharpers, and they were looking in the
river and lake for his dead body"
"Hm!' he coughed, and that ended
our conversation, though [ did not fail
to notice the look of qualification which
crept over his face. That he had hid
den the treasure was certain. That he
would visit it sooner or later was dead
sure. 1 watched him closely during
the day, and l saw that he was nervous
and preoccupied. L expected he would
90 out to inspect his treasure at night,
and / took my precautions that he
should not escape me, but he made no
move. He went to work on Friday
noon of one week and I on Thursday
of the next. When Sunday week came
it was bright, warm day, and made
up my mind not to lose sight of him
for an hour. There were several acres
of logs in the yard, and after breakfast
went to the mill, climbed up in the
attic, and had the yard and the hamlet
under my eye. At about ten o'clock
Lane came down into the yard, wan
dered about I'm an aimless sort of way,
though all the time keeping his eyes
ing huge log lying near thorn-apple
tree, which was the only tree or bush
in the yard. / had been hauling logs
with the cattle to the bank and dump
ing them off for the elevator or car to
carry them up the incline into the mill,
and had noticed the big log. 1t had
been there for years, and was worth
less. Now that 1 saw Lane in the vicin-
ity 1 made up my mind that he had
hidden his money close by, and
slipped out and went for a ramble in
the woods.
That night at midnight, without any
thing having happened to create sus-
picion on Lanes part, dressed myself |
and crept out of the tavern to make
hunt for the money. On my way out
paused at his door, and he was breath |
ing like man fast asleep. 1 had my
revolver and pair of handouts ready |
to take with me, but missed them after |
1 got outside. Every thing about was
so quiet that l set off, thinking to be |
back with the money in few min
utes. The big log lay within twenty
feet of the bank. There was Il hollow |
in one end, but no money. The other
end was solid. / climbed over it and |
passed around it, and had just discov-
cred a hollow which had been the base |
of big limb. when 1 got blow on the |
neck which rolled me over and over for |
ten feet. Before 1 could get up Lane |
was upon me. He was Il good deal the |
larger and stOuter man. but he could |
not hold Inc still. I could roll under |